OSMP unveils 2024–2030 climate plan, prioritizes wildfire resilience and emissions reductions

OSMP staff presented a department climate plan — the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Climate Plan 2024–2030 — to trustees at their Dec. 11 meeting, outlining 19 prioritized “climate solutions” organized under three objectives: strengthen resilience of natural and working lands, reduce departmental emissions, and expand climate awareness, participation and equity.

“Every ton matters, and we need to take care of what we have,” Brian Anacker, an OSMP staff member participating in the Science and Climate Resilience work group, told trustees while summarizing consultant studies used to develop the plan. Anacker said OSMP’s on-the-ground operations emit about 3,600 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year and that vegetation and soils on open space lands store on the order of 3,000,000 metric tons of carbon.

Staff said the plan aims first to protect and steward existing carbon stores by reducing risks such as wildfire, drought and flood and by investing in land-management practices. Anacker highlighted projects to reduce soil loss on degraded agricultural…